Plow



Feb. 9, 1932; P. HANsMANN ET AL 1,843,977

PLow- Original Filed Sept. 15, 1927 '7 Sheets-Sheet, l

"Feb 9, '1932. P. HANSMANN ETAL 1,843,977 I PLOW '7 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed Set. 15. 192,7

n. aulHa/zmanan Feb- 9, 1932. P. HANsMANN-Er Al. 1,343,977

PLow Y original Filed sept. 15, 15u27 fr sheets-sheet Y s fe y",bauen/ions Pau l Hau sig/nn Hen/nan dc Feb. 9., 1932.

P. HANsMANN ET AL PLOW- 'Original Filed Sept. 15. 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 4PLOW rginal` Filed Sept; 15. 192'?A Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 9, 1932. P.HANsMANN ET AL 1,843,977`

rLow 0rgin a1 Filed Sept. 15. 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 7 Sheets-Sheet -7PLow Feb; 9, 1932.

s; y w/ w t p w umg/M i a H P Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED .STATESPATENT 'o1-Fiori PAUL HANSMANN AND HERMAN STRAGE, F LONG PRAIRIE,MINNESOTA; SAID STRACK ASSIGNOR T0 SAID HANSMANN y PLOW Y sealedforbanaoned apncation mea september 15, 1927, serial No. 219,672.Divided and this appueation filed November 14, 1930. Serial No. 495,674.i

This invention relates to plows, and more particularly to plows whereinthe plow beams are individually connected to a supporting frame forindependent, vertical, and lateral swinging movement, and havingV meanswhereby the forward ends of the plow beams are rendered movablevertically to Vtilt the shares upon their heels.

This `invention has among its objects to provide means functioningduring the lifting and lowering-of the plow to relieve the manuallyoperated actuating means from the pulling strain transmitted from lthehorses or other draft element.

Among other objects is the providing of means utilizing' a lportion ofthe draft stresses so as to lessen the strain transmitted vtov the plowcontrolling mechanism, thereby facilitating the operation ofr thatmechanism; to

'i provide means for independently and conveniently bringing aboutvertical adjustment of the plows; and to provide means for relativelyregulating the supporting wheels with respect tothe plow frame tomaintain the plows in 'a horizontal plane, with the wheels of the plowin vertically ofl'setpositions.`

@ther objects and advantages will be pointed out as this specificationprogresses, the vinvention consisting in the construction, combination7and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and specifically claimed.

vWhile the features ofvinventi'on, as shown in the drawings herein, areembodied in ay gang plow, it is not the intention to limit the inventionto such embodiment, as a one-unit plow may be constructed within thescope of our invention.

In the acompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a gangplow emr bodying the features of thepresent invention,

Y with the plows in operative position and the draft rigging indicatedby dotted lines. j

Figure 2 is a view in elevationof the right hand side thereof, with theparts in the same positions as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the left hand s ide thereof with theparts in the same positions' as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 with someof the parts omitted'andsome broken away to show a rear wheel controland m adjustment and the left front wheelpost. Y

rFigure 4 is a view in elevation of the right hand side thereof withsome ,parts omitted and some broken away to show the position i theplowsassume due to the pull of the draft element when the control leverlatch is released and a segmental lever is brought into contact with across rbar of the frame.

Figure 5 is a View in elevation corresponding to that shown in Figure 4with the plows further tilted dueto the pull on a plow supporting crankwhich has passed beyond dead Y center, and with the pull rod, which isconnected with the segmental lever, loose and in a forward position inthe slot of said Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view illustrating theadjustment between' the crank arms of the two plows.

Figure is a detail view of a rear ground element wheel. i

Figure 11 is an enlarged sectionall View through a crank vshaft on theline 11-11 of Figure 1 to show the supporting bearings with a toothedquadrant mounted loosely on the shaft and bolted to a frame bar and anoperating lever hub and lever hub keyed to the shaft. 4 Figure 12 is asectional View on line 12- 12 of Figure 13.v

Figure 13 is a sectional view on line 13-13 of Figure 12; and

A Figure 14 is a sectional view on line 14-14 of Figure 13; the lastthree views illustrating the means by which the plow beams are ad`justed horizontally. Y j

The subject matter of the present invention is that disclosed in ourabandoned application Serial Number 219,672liled September 15, 1927, ofwhich the present case is a substitute.

As shown in the drawings, a plow, or plows, are supported upon a wheeledframe A, frame comprising a front cross bar 2, a rearwardly extendingside bar 3 joined at its forward end to the cross bar, and a diagonalbrace member 4 connecting the cross bar 2 and the side bar 3, with theside bar 3 extending an appreciable distance rearwardly beyond thediagonal brace member 4. Supported, one upon each end of the front crossbar 2, are vertically disposed bearing members 5, `in which verticalposts 6 of a pair of supporting wheels 7 are slidably and pivotallymounted. As shown, the lower ends of the posts 6 are bent firstrearwardly and then outwardly to form axle supports for wheels 7. rlfheposts 6 are held in vertically adjusted positions in relation to thebearings 5 by the following described mechanism Secured upon the upperend of each of the posts 6 is a toothed quadrant and lever-supportingmember 8, the quadrant 9 proj ecting rearwardly from the support member8. A lever arm 10 has fulcrum support 11 upon each supporting member 8,each lever carry ing an ordinary manually controlled pawl mechanism 1.2to cooperate with the toothed quadrant and hold the lever in adjustedpositions. Eachlever 10 at its lower end has a. forwardly extending arm13 connected by a rod 14' to the frame work. Thus, by turning either ofthe levers 10 rearwardly about its fulcrum 11, that side of the framewil-l be raised upon the supporting` post while a reverse movement ofsaid levers will lower the frame upon the supporting posts. The abovedescribed mechanism permits independent adj ust-ment of the sides of theframe, and thus the frame and plows may be kept in an even, horizontalposition, as shown, with the wheels vin varying vertical positions.

ln order to steer the plow and control the wheels, a steering pole 15 isprovided, supported as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 3, upon thevertical post 16, having suitable journal support on the frame. Thewheels are controlled from the steering pole through two adjustable rods17 connecting the arm 18, projecting` rearwardly from the steering postsupport, with the rear ends of arms 19 projecting rearwardly from thewheel posts 6. The rods 17, as shown, have pivotal `support in the rearends of the arms 18 land 19, the front ends of the arms 19 beingsuitably lkeyed, or otherwise rigidly fastened, to the wheely posts 6.In order to permit of a swinging adjustment of the wheels 7, the rods 17are each provided with an adjusting sleeve 20, so that by adjusting thelengths of the rods 17 by means of the sleeves 2O any desired swingingadjustment of the supporting wheels may be provided.

Nhere horses are employed for draft nower, eveners 21 are connected withthe frame work by the following mechanism:

Supported in front of the front cross bar 2 of the frame and below saidcross bar by journaled brackets 22 projecting downwardly and forwardlyfrom the cross bar, is a rotatable draft bar 23. An arm 24 (see Figures1, 6, 7, and 8) projecting upwardly and forwardly from the left hand endof the draft bar 23 has link connection 25 with an evener clevis ring26. The right hand end of the draft bar is also connected with theclevis ring bymeans of a rod 27 connecting the clevis ring 26 with anarm 28 projecting upwardly and forwardly from the draft bar, the rod 27being provided with an adjusting sleeve 29.

Having journal support upon the rear end of the bar 3 is a groundelement wheel 30. As shown, particularly in Figure 10, a supporting post31 of the ground element wheel is fulcrumed in a vertically disposedjournal bearing 32, suitably supported upon the bar 3 and adjustableupon said bar through the medium Yof the adjusting screws 33. Securedupon the upper end of the post 31 is a laterally `(intending arm 34connected in the following described manner, with the outer end of anarm 35, which arm 35 projects laterally from the rear end of thesteering pole 15. A rod 36 connects the outer end of the .arm 35 withthe lower end of a lever 37 having-central fulcrum sup port 38 upon theframe bar 3. The upper end of the lever 37 is pivotally connected by arod 39 with the outer end of the arm 34 secured to the ground elementwheel supporting post 31. An adjusting sleeve 40 is provided for the`rod 39, to permit adjustment of the ground element wheel 30. Adjustableconnections between the rods 36 and 39 and the lever 37 may be securedby providing the lever 37 with a plurality ofopenings 41. By mountingthe ends of the rods 36 and 39, respectively, in openings^41at differentdistances from the fulcrum of the lever 37, the relative movementbetween the arm 35 and the arm 34 can be adjusted.

To support and control the plows B and C the yfollowing mechanism i sprovid-ed Journaled in bearings supported by the side bar 3 of the frameand the diagonalbrace bar 4 in rear of the front cross bar 2 of theframe is a crank shaft 42, the free end 43 of said shaft being bentforwardly and then outwardly and forming a support at its outer end forthe beam 50 of the plow B. Similarly ournaled in bearings supported bythe side bar 3 of the frame and the diagonal brace bar 4 in rear of theshaft 42 is a crank shaft 44, which shaft at its free end is bentforwardly and outwardly anl forms a bearing support at its outer end forthe beam 50 of the plow C. These two plows, as shown, are

in parallel arrangement, the plow C being `Ysuitable set screw 47.

`with the pivot adapted for vertical swinging upon theA 1 ly in thefollowing manner Mounted rotatably on the lend of each crank shaft ispivot block 45', which block is held positioned upon the shaft by acollar 46, the collar being secured to the shaft by a The supporting,twopart bracket members 48 and 49 of the plow beam 50 have verticalpivotal connection 5l lock 45. rlhe plow is thus crank shaft and forhorizontal swinging upon tn'epivot 51. To provide for adjustment of theplow with respectrto its support upon Vthe crank shaft, thebracketmember 49 is formed with an opposed pair of arcuate slots 52, see Figure14, through which are inserted bolts 53 connecting thebracket members 48and 49. rlhe bracket member48 is formed with a central boss, orprojection, 54, projecting into a corresponding central opening 55 inthe bracket member 49 to prevent lateral displacement of these members.As will, therefore, be evident, the position Yof each plow may belaterally adjusted by means of the pivot block 45 upon the crank shaft;and by means of the slotted pivotal-connection between the bracketmembers 48 and 49, the plow may be rotatably adjusted about itslongitudinal axis. 1

rlhe plows are actuated incarrying them into and out of the groundthrough the following described mechanism and connections: Y

Upwardly extending arms 58l and 59 are lixedly connected to the crankshafts 42 and 44, respectively. Rods 56 and 57 are pivoted in the upperends of said arms andare adjustably connected by a turnbucklle 60. rllherotation of the crank shaft 42 vthus causes, by means of thisconnection, a similar rotation of the crank shaft 44. To permit manualrotation of the shaft42 and by means of the above mechanism, the shaft44 simul-V taneously tnerewith, therev is provided a lever 61 keyed tothe crank shaft 42 and carrying a manually controlled locking pawl 62 tocooperate with the teeth of a quadrant 63 supported by the frame-work tohold the lever 61 in an adjusted position. Projecting downwardly fromthe lower end of the lever 61 is an arm 64 connected at its lower end,by a link 65, with a lever arm- 66 fixedly mounted upon the draft bar23. As shown, particularly in Figures 6 and 7, the arm 66 at its upperend is formed with a curved slot, into which the forwardend of the link65 projects, this arm 66 being formed with a lower rearwardly projectingportion 6'? which, at a certain point in the operation, as illustratedin Figure 7, contacts with the cross bar 2 to limit the rotation of thearm 66 and with it the draw bar 23. The lever arm 66 is longer than theleveriarms 24 and 28which are connected, by means of the links 25 and 27which' may b-e considered as constituting a draft element of themechanism, to the source of motive power which may here be considered asbeing connected to the eveners 21, although a tractor or other source ofmotive power may be readily employed, if desired. Y

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate the plows in normal, operating positions. Inthis position lof the plows, the/lever 61 is in a forward position withreference to the cooperating quadrant 63, locking the draw bar 23 andlever 65 in rearward position, as shown in Figure 6. In this positionthe plow supporting cranks 43 and 44,-will be in a lowered position,lowering the forward ends of the plow beams connected thereto andthereby lowering the plow points to cause them to enter the ground toaplowing position, such as is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive.lVhen the plows are in this position vand the mechanism is being 'drawnforward by a suitable source of motive power, the resistance of theearth to the passage of the plows places a powerful rearward stress onthe plow beams, which tends to rotate the cranks 43 and 44 rearwardlyand downwardly. The forward pull on the arm 64 by the link 65 connectedto the arm 66,.however, tends to partially counterbalance this rearwardpull of the plow beams, and facilitates manually raising the beamsfbymeans-of the lever 61 and associated parts, when desired. Of course,when the lever 61 is locked in' its forward position, as illustrated inFigures 1 to 3 and 6, the forward pull on the lower projection 64 of thelever 61 is prevented from rotating the lever 61 by the rearward pull onthe plow-beams,4 and, furthermore, by the engagement of the pawl 62 withthe toothedI` quadrant 63 so' that this pulling force which assistsinraising the plows during the actual raisingv thereof, is transmittedrtothe frame during a plowing operation.

vWhen it is desired to lift the points of the plows to carry them outo-f the ground, as illustrated, particularly in Figures 4, v5, 7, and 8,the 'lever arm 61 is swung backward. During the initial portion of thisbackward swing, the pull from the draft element is transmitted to thearms 24 and 28 tending to rotate the draft bar 23 clockwise, as illus-Itrated in Figures 6 to 8. rlhis also tends to rotate the arm 66clockwiseand to draw the link 65 forwardly, thus assisting in Jthe rearwardmovement of the lever 61 by the operator. As the lever 61 is pulledback, it will be evident, as illustrated in Figure 7, that the lowerprojecting end of the lever arm will be swung forward, permittingcontinued pull from the draft element to turn 'the portion 67 of thelever 66 into engagement with the iront cross bar of the frame, as shownin Figure 7. By the time 'the projection 57 engages the cross bar 2 ofthe frame, the crank shafts 43 and ist will have passed dead center andthereafter the pull of the plow beams will assist in further raising theplows from the ground so as to make unnecessary any further action ofthe lever the link for this purpose. TWhile the projection GT of thelever 66 is in contact witl cross bar 2, as shown in Figure 7, all of tie pulling strain transmitted through the draft element is transmittedto' 'the plow frame and none is transmitted to the link connection G5.llVitl the stop lug in the position shown in Figure "l", the continuedrearward swing of the lever 6l and continued lifting of the points ofthe plows will be permitted by the slotted connection between the link65 and the lever` 66. This is of great advantage both in the lifting andlowering of the. plow. AThe above relieves the strain upon the operator,as the operator is not, during the initial movement of the lever arm inthe raising operation, or in the nal movement of the lowering operation,handling the lever against the pull the draft means. By varying therelative lengths of the levers 2% and 28 and the lever 66 any desiredportion of the pull of the draft element may be transmitted to the lever6l to assist in raising the plows.

By reason of the above described features of invention, it is possibleto readily perform the operation of l wering and raising the plowswithout stopping the plow or without undue strain on the operator.

The principal function of the ground element wheel during a. plowingoperation is to create a lateral force which is opposed to the sidedraft of the plows. This side draft is a lateral force and is a wellknown characteristic of mould board type plows and is produced by thepressure of the earth against the mould board as the mould board raisesand turns the earth during a plowing operation. The ground element wheelmay be positioned 'to ride against the land side of a furrow and in thismanner resist the lateral force of the side draft, although other t *pesof ground. elements to resist side draft are well known to the art, and,inasmuch as the ground element wheel itself does not constitute one ofthe features of the present invention, it is not desired to limit theinvention to embodiment with any particular type of ground element wheelfor this purpose.

Among other important advantages of the construction described and shownare the means for leveling the frame. By means of the slidable supportsof the wheels and the actuating levers therefor either side of the framemay be quickly adjusted vertically with reference to the wheel for thatside so that one wheel may travel upon a higher level than the other, asillustrated in Figure 2, with the plows remaining level.

By means of the adjustable connections between the wheel posts andsteering pole, the apparatus is conveniently steered from the pole andadjustments may be easily made in the wheel alinement. By means of theadjustable connection between the crank shafts of the two plows, therelative depth of travel of the plows may be easily regulated, and, bymeans of the supporting connections above described for the plow beamsupon the crank shafts, the plow beams may be easily adjusted laterallyupon the crank shafts, and by means of the adjustable support for theplow bea-ms, particularly shown in Figure 14, the plow may be adjustably rotated about its longitudinal axis with reference to itssupport to hold it in proper plowing position. By means of theadjustable connection between the steering pole and the ground elementwheel 30 the traveling position of the ground element wheel may beregulated.

he described features of invention are of particular importance in aplow of this character, wherein the plows are supported to swing freelylaterally and vertically during the plowing operation at one side of thecenter of draft and the side draft counter-balanced as by means of aground element wheel supported at the rear of the plow.

V/hile the construction is herein illustrated and described ashorse-drawn, other draft means may be employed within the scope of theinvention.

liffith respect to the connection of the draft means with both the frameand the plow and the means for operatively disconnecting the draft meansfrom the plow at a certain point in the lifting operation of the plow,it will be evident that up to the time that the plow is being lifted thedraft means is through its connections pulling upon the plow and liftinglever of the plow in a manner to assist in starting the liftingoperation; whereas, after the projection from the lever 66 comes incontact with the frame cross bar. there is no further pull upon the-plowoperating lever by the draft means. As pointed out, this relieves thestrain upon the operator handling the lifting lever, both in the initiallifting of the plow and in the lin al lowering of the plow.

We claim:

l. A plow mechanism, comprising in combination, a wheeled frame, plowsupport means pivotally mounted thereon, a plow, a beam connected tosaid plow and having journaled connection with said plow support means,a draft element, means operatively connecting said draft element to saidframe and to said plow support means to exert an upward force on saidplow support means.

2. A plow mechanism, comprising in combination with a wheeled frame, aplow, a crank shaft, a plow beam connected to said plow Vand journaledon said crank shaft, a draft element, and means operatively connectingsaid draft element to said frame and to said crank shaft to tend toraisesaid plow beam during a Vplowing operation.

3. plow mechanism, comprising in combination, a frame, pair of forwardsupport wheels therefor, a plow,a crank shaft pivotally mounted in saidframe, and having vertical and lateral pivotal connection to said plow,manually operated means operatively associated with said crank shaft tosecure said crank shaft in an adjusted position, a ground engagingelement adjustably mounted rearwardly on said frame, steering meansadjustably connected to said forward support wheels and to said groundelement wheel, a draft element, and offset lever means connected tosaidl draft element and to said crank shaft tending to raise said plowduring a plowing operation.

Ll. A plow. mechanism comprising a frame, support wheels mountedthereon, steering means connected to said wheels, a vertically movableplow support member, a plow, a beam connected to said plow and havinglvertical and lateral pivotal connection to said plow support member, adraft element, and means connecting said plow support member to saiddraft element to exert a lifting force on said plow supportl memberVduring a'plowing operation.

5. In a gang plow, a frame, support wheels mounted thereon, a plurality7of plow supporting crank shafts journaled on said frame, a plow mountedfor verticaland lateral pivotal movement on each of said crank shafts, aground element wheel supported by said frame in compensatingrelationship with said plows, means inter-connecting said crank shaftsto move said crank shafts in unison, manually actuated means to rotatesaid crank shafts to vertically move the front ends of said plows, adraft element, means operal tively connecting said draft element andsaid crank shafts to exert a lifting force on said crank shafts during aplowing operatiom'and means operative during a lifting operation tooperatively disconnect said draft element from said crank shaft. j f

6. In a gang plow, a frame, a plurality of supporting wheels mountedforwardly thereon, a plurality of verticallymovable shafts mounted insaid frame, a plow connected to each of said shafts 'to have verticaland hori-V plows and positioned to exert a lateral force Zontal pivotalconnection therewith, a ground element wheel mounted rearwardly of saidplows and positioned to engage the ground during a plowing operation tooppose side drafts ofv said plows, manually actuated means connected tovertically move said plow support shafts, a draft element connected tosaid frame, means interconnecting said draft element and said manuallyactuated shaft operating means, and means actuatable during a liftingoperation of the plow support shafts to operativelyy disconnectv said.draft `element from said-shaft operatingineanslV ,7, In a-gang' plow, awheeled frame, al plurality of plows, mountedfor vertical-landvhorizontal pivotal movement on said frame, a side draft compensatinggroundelement carried y `by said, frame, kmanually actuated :meansmounted to control vertical movement of the forward ends of said plows,a4 draft element Y connected to said frame and to said-manually actuatedplow control'means, and means operative' during'a lifting of the forwardends of said plows to operatively disconnect said draft element means. f.,-v Y y j 8.-` In agang plow, a frame support, wheels connectedthereto,AV a pluralityof vertically adjustable plow support meansmounted on said frame, a plurality of plows having independent,vertical, and horizontal pivotal confnection `withsaid plow supportmeans, a Ldraft element connectedto said frame, means operativelyconnecting "said plow support means in a lowerfadjusted position to saiddraft element to eXertan upward force thereelement, a supporting leverfor said draftV element pivotally mounted on said frame, 'and levermeans operatively connected to said draft element support lever and tosaid crank shafts to exert an upwardly rotating force thereonduring aplowing operation.

lOLTIn a gang plow, a wheeled frame, a

from said plow control wo Y Vdraft element mountedon said frame, aplurality of vertically movable plow support members mounted on saidframe, a plow having vertical and lateral pivotal connection with eachofsaid plowy support members,`said plows being mounted, on one side ofthe line of draft from said draft element, a ground elementl wheelsupported rearwardly of said on said frame contrary to the sidev draftof said plows, manually actuated means connected to said plow supportmembers to vertically adjust said members, and means coni necting saiddraft element and said plow support' members to exert an upward force onsaid plow support members.

ll. In a gang plow, a wheeled frame, a draft element mounted on saidframe, a plurality of vertically movable plow supportmembers mounted onsaid frame, a plow oonnected to each of said plow support members tollave vertical and lateral pivotal Connection therewith, said plowsbeing mounted on one side of the line of draft from said draft element,a ground element wheel supported rearwardly of said plows and positionedto exert alateral force on said frame contrary to the side draft of'said plows, manually actuated means connected to said plow supportmembers to vertically adjust said members, means Connecting said draftelement and said plow support members to exert an upward force on saidplow support members.

l2. In a gang plow, a frame, a plurality of support wheels, an axlesupporting each wheel and connected to said frame to be free forindependent vertical movement with respect to said frame manuallycontrolledv adjusting means connected to said frame and to each of saidaxles to adjust thel relative ve-rtical position of said frame withrespect to each of said wheels, a plurality of plows mounted on saidframe, plowV lifting lever means mounted to vertically move the frontportions of said plows, a draft element eonneeted to said frame, andmeans Connecting said plow lifting lever means and said draft element toexert a lifting force on the front ends of said plows.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

PAUL l HANSMANN. HERMAN STRACK.

Yias/isla??

